Horticulture books for every need

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 17

Horticulture books for every need

The very wide range of horticulture books available today can make selection a difficult matter.

It is easier, however, if you have a specific interest — like fruit-growing or alpines — as you need only to consider the specialist publications.

A welcome trend now is the increasing number of quality books written by pro-fessionally-qualified people with experience of local conditions. Although American or British backgrounds do not detract from the many fine overseas publications, variations of outlook must sometimes be taken into consideration. Some people place little importance on illustrations, but the writer disagrees: much can be learnt from photographs and diagrams provided they are representative, clear and to the point. This quality has been noted often in recent local publications.

YATES GUIDE A New Zealand edition of “Yates Garden Guide" was first, published in 1905. What was then a slim little booklet, has grown into a solid volume today in its 49th revised edition. For anyone who wants "to do it right" and perhaps learn some more, this book is essential. There is reference to just about every aspect of horticulture the average gardener is likely to require, and it is supplemented by handy lists and lots of illustrations. On a more elevated level there is the “Reader’s Digest Book of Gardening,” which contains a wide range of contributions by Australian and New Zealand authorities and many coloured illustrations. Everything is handled in a concise and straightforward manner which makes the book easy to follow. “The Complete Gardening Book” is from the prolific pen of Sima Elvioson, a I South African with a penchant for presenting very readable material. It goes a step further than the previous two books in its visual and written presentation. It covers an even wider range of topics. Well-selected photographs and illustrations help to clarify or emphasise particular points and, there is a full index, which could serve as a guide to the many authors who fail in this respect. Some advice relating only to South African conditions and references to a few unobtainable chemicals and insect pests Which do not. trouble New Zealand are minor drawbacks. N.Z. FLORA

New Zealand flora may not be as spectacular as that of some countries, but it

('provides enough unique and varied examples to keep fully occupied anyone interested. “Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand,” by Poole and Adams, is one of the most helpful books on the subjects. The hundreds of plants mentioned are listed under their respective families, which are recorded in alphabetical order. A concise, reasonably informative text cov,ers the various species on one page while a page of clear line-drawings faces it. A glossary, a guide to leaf shapes and a brief introduction to ecology, supplement this excellent, competitively■.priced book. “The Cultivation of New Zealand Trees and Shrubs,” by' L. Metcalfe, was named one of the six best New Zealand books of 1973 in the James Wattie Book of the Year award. WEALTH OF DETAIL The assistant director of Christchurch Botanic Gardens has provided here an unrivalled wealth of detail which will surely be a major reference work for years to come. The material is provided by a man who has had wide practical experience, researched deeply and still managed to keep his sentiments for our native flora in perspective. There is a host of generally good colour photographs and line drawings, although the black and white illustrations sometimes lack definition.

The main pests and diseases affecting New Zealand trees and shrubs are a major subject of the first part of the book, which also includes chapters on cultivation, specific plant use and other points. A chapter is devoted to propagation and this is supplemented by specific references under the genera described in the second part of the book. However, this at times appears a little too brief. I Students of New Zealand flora will value the exceptional list of references to publications, included in the appendices and. bibliography.

Western Australia is renowned the world over for its spectacular flowers, many of which are unique, colourful and confined in their distribution. It is little wonder then that the state i is a Mecca for wildflower! enthusiasts, botanists and photographers, particularly in. the spring, when there is a predominance of bloom. AUSTRALIAN PLANTS “Flowers and Plants of Western Australia,” a Reed book, has just been published as the second in a series designed to cover the flora of Australia. This handsome volume contains 538 full-colour plates and presents a concise descriptive pictorial reference for the field naturalist and plantlover alike. The title is a little misleading as the volume deals with only the north-west and south-western regions. Hope is expressed in the book’s introduction that the state’s northern sector will be covered In a separate publication. Even so, the area covered is vast. There are some greatly differing types of vegetation included, and these have been separated into different chapters within the book. BOOK ON CLIMBERS

With books like the indispensable “Handbook of Trees and Shrubs for the Southern Hemisphere” and the “Know Your Garden” series behind him, R. E, Harrison needs no introduction.

His latest effort is the longdelayed “Climbers and Trailers,” a companion volume to the “Know your Garden” series, employing the same format. Such a truly representative book on climbing plants has long been needed. There are some odd inclusions and omissions. For instance, one expects to see the species of Rubus, particularly some of those which are endemic to New Zealand, if not climbers such as Schizophragma hydrangeoids. Then again, to be consistent with the explanations given and to achieve proper representation, conifers should have been left out. Clematis-lovers will be pleased with the coverage given to these plants. Apart from a few' disappointing reproductions, “Climbers and Trailers” should satisfy those who require a good reference, to this subject.

“Plant Training. Pruning and Surgery,” by K. R. W, Hammett more than adequately fills another void in the range of books on horticulture. It has a good practical approach, clear setting and well chosen illustrations to complement the text.

The author, a scientist engaged in plant, pathology at the Plant Diseases Division of the D.5.1.R., provides sound guidance bn pruning, thinning and allied matters. Well-known for his research bn plant diseases and contributions to various New Zealand periodicals, Dr Hammett has gone a step further than most writers by giving basic reasons for the whys and wherefores of matters discussed.

The central questions he discusses are (1) what are the objectives of training plants? (2) what are the methods available for regulating plant growth and (3) what are the limitations of plant response? Through these he provides considerable insight, into how one can utilise various factors to achieve desirable response! from plants.

Dr Hammett’s book, should be compulsory reading for all who wish to regulate plants, and this applies particularly to some of the so-called professional practitioners.